Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), painter to a powerful prince in life, has been esteemed as a prince among painters since his death. By 1900 recognition of his achievement attracted an international group of painters like Édouard Manet, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. This interest persists among artists today, who respond now to Velázquez in video and film, sculpture, and photography. In this development, one Velázquez work has emerged to command sustained attention: Las Meninas. Created in 1656, it first went on public view when the Prado opened in 1819. Its size (10 1/2 by 9 feet) conveys importance, but its composition, technical virtuosity, and magisterial space give iconic grandeur. Unsurprisingly, interpretations abound. After looking at related works and details of Velázquez's life, this course focuses on Las Meninas. Social issues around portraiture arise quickly, but issues of representation are crucial, especially now. These involve what we do not see but know, as painted space invades real space and the passage of time is implicated. Welcome to the challenges of Las Meninas.
